Tent threshold stiffener



Dec. 1-2, 1961 R. H. WALTON 3,012,567

TENT THRESHOLD STIFFENER Filed Nov. 16, 1959 cl masprlf. W AmAg INVENTOR.

,012,567 TENT THREfiHOLD STIFFENER Robert H. Walton, 9116 Mapleside St., Bellflower, Calif. Filed Nov. 16, 1959, Ser. No. 853,061 4 Claims. (Cl. 13514) This invention relates to camping equipment and more particularly to an apparatus for retaining a fabric threshold of a tent in its proper upright position.

In many types of tents enjoying increased popularity for camping, a fabric threshold is provided at the door of the tent. The threshold extends above the ground level and the floor level of the tent to act as a barrier to prevent the entrance of objects into the tent along the ground. That is, the upstanding threshold prevents leaves, dirt and foreign matter from being kicked into the interior of the tent as persons enter. In addition, it prevents the entrance into the tent of ground crawling insects of many types, and in many other ways insures a greater degree of cleanliness in the interior of the tent. However, after such a tent has been used for a substantial period, especially when children are entering and leaving the tent, the threshold has a tendency to become flattened due to continued kicking and pressing downward thereon. Since the threshold and the other portions of the tent which retain it in position are formed of fabric, it is possible for the threshold to be flattened or deformed due to the flexibility of the fabrics involved.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for retaining such a tent threshold in an upright position.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus whereby the threshold is returned to its upright position after being depressed or flattened.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which retains the threshold in the proper position to form the most effective barrier against the entrance of unwanted objects into the tent.

States Patent C) A still further object of the present invention is to provide such an apparatus which is simple and economical to manufacture.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such an apparatus which can be formed in a demountable configuration and which can be broken down for easy carrying.

The present invention is an apparatus for maintaining a tent threshold in its upstanding position and comprises a base member which is adapted to rest upon the floor surface of the tent adjacent the interior upstanding wall of the threshold. Upstanding arms are provided aflixed edge of the threshold. The apparatus is formed with sutficient resiliency to return to a normal at-rest position at which the upstanding arms are substantially vertically oriented and such resiliency is sufiicient to return the threshold to its upstanding position.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present invention both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing in which presently preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

in the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of an'illustrative tent with the apparatus of the present invention used in conjunction therewith;

to the base member and are engageable with the upper FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view in perspective and partly in section showing the apparatus of the present invention as used in conjunction with the tent threshold of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side view in elevation corresponding to FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a partial perspective view showing a first alternate embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGURE 5 is a partial view in perspective showing a second alternative embodiment of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown in FIG- URE 1 a tent A of a common illustrative type to which the apparatus of the present invention is applicable. The tent has an entrance or doorway D with an upstanding threshold T. The threshold T is a strip of fabric which extends upward from the floor F of the tent between the edges of the entrance D. The threshold is accordingly affixed to the floor F of the tent and to the opposite edges of the entrance D. The threshold thus extends upward from the floor surface F in a direction determined by the wall of the tent which is somewhat less than vertical. The height of the threshold T may vary, however it is commonly of the order of a few inches and is designed to prevent the ingress of foreign objects and materials into the tent. It can be seen from the drawing that the height of the threshold is designed to prevent leaves, dirt and foreign matter from being kicked into the tent and to prevent the entrance into the tent of objects which move along the ground. Most of the elements, including the floor F, the walls of the tent and the threshold are formed of the same fabric throughout.

Referring now particularly to FIGURES 2 and 3, a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in conjunction witha common type of threshold T utilized in the illustrative tent A. The apparatus includes a base 10 formed from a base member 1 1 and transverse members 12 and 14. The length of the base member 11 is approximately equal to the width of the threshold T, although it may be somewhatless than such width. At each end of the base member 11 a transverse member is provided which extends forwardly from the base member 11 at substantially right angles thereto in the illustrative embodiment. The base member 11 and the transverse members 12 and 14 all lie in a common plane and are adapted to rest upon the horizontal floor surface of the tent; The length of the transverse members 12 and 14 is sufficient to give stability to the base 10 such that the apparatus is horizontally stable. At the forward end of each transverse member an upstanding leg member 15 and 16 is provided. The legmembers'are substantially equalin height and extend relatively vertically or parallel to the threshold with respect to the plane of the base 10 of the apparatus. The upstanding legs 15 and 16 although substantially. vertical may have a slight slope rearward toward the base member 11, which slope is substantially coincidental with the slope of the'threshold T which is in turndue to the slope of the forward wall of the tent. The height of the up standing legs 15 and 16 is approximately e ua e one half of the height of the threshold '1, although this heightproximately 6 gauge is employed a'ndthe base, and up,

standing legs are integrally formed by bending the Wife' to-the configuration as shown in FIGURE 2 to form the base member 11, transverse members 12 and 14,-a'nd up I standing legs 15 and 16. Other suitable materials can be employed such as metal tubing.

Spring arms 18 and 19 are connected at the upper end of the upstanding legs 15 and 16 respectively such that the spring arms 18 and 19 extend upwardly from the legs substantially in the plane thereof, which plane is approximately coincidental with the plane of the threshold T when the threshold is in the desired position. The spring arms are preferably pivotally aifixed to the legs 15 and 16 in order to vary the height of the apparatus as described hereinafter. In the embodiment shown the spring arms and legs are pivotally connected by forming an eye 21 at the lower end of each spring arm and a similar eye 22 at the upper end of each of the legs. A fastening means such as a bolt 24 is inserted through the eyes and a wing nut 25 is threadably positioned on the bolt such that it may be tightened down to retain the spring arms 18 and 19 in the desired position with respect to the legs 15 and 16. At the upper end of each of the spring arms 18 and 19 means are provided for affixing the spring arms to the upper edge 25 of the thresho In the embodiment shown the fastening means 26 and 27 respectively are provided by coiling the material forming the spring arm into a tight coil such that adjacent turns of the coil can be separated sufliciently and placed over the edge of the threshold to thereby firmly engage the threshold. The material from which the spring arms 18 and 19 is formed is a material which has suificient resiliency to return to its normal position after it has been bent or otherwise substantially deformed. The height of the spring arm is of course dependent upon the height of the upstanding legs and is such that the combined height of the legs and the respective spring arms is somewhat greater than the height of the threshold. Due to the pivotal connection of the spring arms 18 and 19 with the legs 15 and 16, the height of the apparatus can be varied to accommodate thresholds of varying heights by pivoting the spring arms into a position at which the connecting means is lowered to the height of the edge 25. That is, maximum height of the apparatus will occur when the spring arms 18 and 19 are extended vertically and lesser heights can be obtained by pivoting the arms downwardly in either direction with respect to the legs 15 and 16.

Thus, in use the apparatus of the present invention is positioned upon the floor F of the tent such that the base member 11 and the transverse members 12 and 14 rest upon the floor of the tent with the forward end of the transverse members and the legs 15 and 16 substantially adjacent to the inner or rear surface of the threshold T. The height of the apparatus is then adjusted by loosening the wing nut 25 in order that the spring arms 18 and 19 can be pivoted to the correct height. The fastening means 26 and 27 are inserted over the edge of the threshold and the wing nuts are tightened to retain the spring arms 18 and 19 in the required position. If the threshold is then kicked inward or bent downward, the spring arms bend rearwardly or forwardly as shown in phantom in FIGURE 3. Due to the resiliency of the apparatus, however, the spring arms return to their normal position and thereby return the threshold to its normal required position. As shown in FIGURE 3, the threshold can be deformed forwardly or rearwardly and will still be returned to the required position by the spring action of the apparatus.

Referring now to FIGURES 4 and and particularly to FIGURE 4, the apparatus of the present invention can be formed such that its width is variable to accommodate thresholds of various widths. This is accomplished by forming the base member 11 in two sections and connecting the sections in such a way that they are mateable and can be affixed at different relative positions to vary the distance between the transverse members 12 and 14. In FIGURE 4 such an adjustment is obtained by providing a clip 30, which clip has an upper and lower member 31 and 32 respectively. The upper and lower members are connected by means of a wing nut assembly, and to each side of the assembly depressions are formed in the upper and lower member to accommodate the base member 11. Thus, as shown in FIGURE 4, the respective halves of the base member 11a and 111) are inserted between the upper and lower plates of the connecting means and are movable with respect to the connecting means. When the base member sections have been oriented to obtain the proper width they are fixed in such orientation by tightening the wing nut 34 of the connecting means. Another embodiment is shown in FIGURE 5 in which the base member is partially formed of tubular material. That is, one section 11b of the base member is formed of a tubular material having an inside diameter approximately equal to the outside diameter of the second half of the base member 11a such that the sections 11a and 11b of the base member can be telescopically mated. A thumbscrew 36 or similar tightening means is provided through an opening in the wall of the tubular base member 11b such that it can be tightened to retain the base member section 11a in the desired relative position.

In addition to the provision for variable width obtained by embodiments such as those shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, these embodiments allow the apparatus to be dismantled into sections for greater ease of portability and packing. Thus, the present invention provides an apparatus for use in connection with tents having an upstanding threshold at the entrance to the tent, which apparatus will retain the threshold in the desired upstanding position. The apparatus will retain the threshold in its position even after the threshold has been bent downward or otherwise deformed a considerable number of times due to use of the tent. The apparatus is economical and simple to manufacture and is rugged and simple in use.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable accessory for maintaining the threshold having top and bottom edges of a fabric tent in an upright position, comprising: elongate base means capable of being disposed inside said tent parallel to said threshold and rearwardly therefrom; two rigid members extending forwardly from said base means to positions adjacent the lower end portions of said threshold; two legs extending upwardly from the forward ends of said members to positions intermediate the top and bottom edges of said threshold; two spring arms extending upwardly from the upper ends of said legs; holding means on the upper ends of said spring arms for removably engaging end portions of said top edge of said threshold; and adjustable means at the upper ends of said legs and lower ends of said arms for holding said spring arms in positions where said holding means can engage said top portions to maintain said threshold in an upright position.

2. An accessory as defined in claim 1 wherein said base means includes two wires having adjacently disposed end portions that overlap and upper and lower clip members that are adjacently disposed, with said upper clip member having an opening formed therein, which clip members contact said adjacently disposed end portions; a threaded rod extending upwardly from said lower clip member through said opening; and a wing nut that threadedly engages said rod, which nut when tightened forces said clip members to pressure grip said wire end portions and maintain the same in fixed positions.

3. An accessory as defined in claim 1 wherein said base means includes a first elongate member and a second elongate member from which said two rigid members extend forwardly with an end portion of said first memher being longitudinally movable in a bore formed in said second member, which second member has a transverse tapped bore formed therein that communicates with said longitudinal bore; and a thumb screw that threadedly engages said tapped bore, said thumb screw when tightened bearing against said first member to hold said first and 5 second members in a desired longitudinal relationship to dispose said holding means adjacent said end portions of said top edge of said threshold.

4. An accessory as defined in claim 1 wherein said adjustment means are eyes formed on the upper ends of said legs and lower ends of said arms, which eyes overlap, and a plurality of screws and wing nuts are provided, which screws extend through said overlapping eyes and are engaged by said wing nuts to hold said spring arms References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Wales July 22, 1902 Hungrige June 7, 1938 Smiley Aug. 11, 1959 

